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Continuous Traffic

Hi All,

This is not so much a problem … just something I'm puzzled about.

Last week, I was asked by a friend to set up a wireless home network for her.
She has a newish Windows XP Pro desktop computer that she exclusively used, plus 2 older, unused desktop computers with XP Home that were well out-of-date and also had a variety of malware on both of them.

I cleaned her 2 older PCs (2 & 3) and installed SP3 plus all the Windows Updates, .NET Frameworks, upgrades to IE8, Firefox and various other programs.
I updated her AVG Free antivirus and installed the latest version of ZoneAlarm Pro
I also installed ZoneAlarm Pro on PC1
All 3 desktop computers and a Laptop, are now operating very well (and fast) on the network, and are now all free of malware
I've also set up the facility for sharing files, folders and various printers on the network

I installed the network using a Netgear router plus 2 USB wireless adapters for PC2 and PC3.
The external modem was supplied by Virgin Media via cable.

When only PC1 is switched on and no programs running, the ZoneAlarm icon in the Notification Area shows continuous activity, except for very brief occasions when the letter Z flashes on and off.
This doesn't happen on any other PC on the network.
Task Manager >> System Idle Process at 99 and all others at 00.
Other than Avast, AVG & ZA, the only "real time" programs used on all PCs are SpywareBlaster and WinPatrol.
This flashing ZA icon on PC1 has only showed continuous activity since I installed the wireless network.

Any theories about this ? My ungrateful friend is complaining that the continuous flashing icon is irritating her. When you hover on it, it says "Traffic".